Shaheen Holloway and the Seton Hall Pirates secured a vital win against Butler, keeping their NCAA Tournament dreams alive with a 63-56 victory. It was a dramatic comeback at Hinkle Fieldhouse, marking their second consecutive win. With this, the Pirates improved to 18-8 and 8-7 in the Big East, a remarkable turnaround from last year’s 7-25 record.
However, Coach Holloway wasn’t pleased with the scheduling. He criticized the Big East for having his team play three games in just one week. “You can’t do that in February,” he expressed during a post-game interview. He’s worried about player fatigue as they push through a crucial part of the season.
Seton Hall now finds themselves on the NCAA Tournament bubble. To solidify their chances, they likely need wins against strong teams like No. 17 St. John’s and No. 6 UConn. They’ll also have to make a mark in the Big East Tournament next month.
Looking ahead, the Pirates face DePaul on Wednesday. DePaul is on the rise, having just edged out Creighton. Holloway knows this upcoming game is essential.
The recent Butler game saw AJ Staton-McCray shine, scoring 15 of his 19 points in the second half. Budd Clark, despite a rough shooting night, contributed significantly with assists and key points. Holloway adjusted his lineup, starting Tajuan Simpkins, which paid off as he added solid stats.
Interestingly, Seton Hall’s free-throw shooting was a challenge, hitting only 10 of 22 attempts. It’s an area they need to improve if they want to keep winning.
As they prepare for DePaul, the energy of the team remains vital. Holloway knows each game counts. The momentum from the Butler win is critical as they aim for a successful run leading into the tournament.
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